Sustainability: what YOU can do

Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator Ben Gray

Net zero, carbon neutral, sustainability, recycling, waste reduction: what does all this mean and what can I do about it?

In the Property Division we’ve someone to help you, his name is Ben Gray and he is our Sustainability Initiatives Coordinator.

His remit is what is boringly termed ‘resource management’, this focus is on three key areas: Energy, Waste and Water. The reality is it’s a bit more exciting, he is helping our energy intensive labs and our offices to understand how they can take practical actions towards Imperial’s target of Net Zero by 2040.

The best bit of the job is that he is available to help any of our people in any of our spaces at any of our campuses with the knotty issues and he’s just itching to work with you!

There are two main initiatives that he is leading to support this, Laboratory Efficiency Assessment Framework (LEAF) and Green Impact.

So, what is LEAF? It is a programme of sustainable criteria aimed at labs, to help them reduce their energy and resource impact. Criteria is benchmarked and participating labs can work their way through the tiers of attainment, bronze, silver and gold.

And Green Impact? It’s the “LEAF for office space”, explains Ben, “backed by the UN”.

Ben is certainly well placed to lead Imperial’s vanguard of activity. He has a Master’s in Chemistry and has worked as an analytical chemist at Procter and Gamble, so has real insight and understanding of practical application from experience in his own labs.

He is currently busy building relationships with many of our lab managers and technicians to support the lab behaviour changes needed for them to begin their submissions.

“A lot of my work supports that of Allison Hunter, Laboratory Resource Efficiency Advisor in the Provost’s Office. While she is focusing on Imperial wide actions, including procurement for our labs, my focus is on their localised efforts, behaviour changes and certifications in LEAF.”

Ben, who joined us in November last year, comments: “So far I have found a very proactive community, engaged with our goals.”

Events

To really kick start the initiatives, Ben recently hosted two launch and sign-up events as part of Sustainability Fortnight 2024.

Around 40 people attended the Lab Certification Sustainability Showcase and around 50 the Green Impact Launch Event.

Ben welcomes invitations from colleagues to piggyback any relevant opportunities at team or network meetings to help him spread the word. 

Email Ben.